How to vote in Nebraska
Nebraska voter registration guide
Nebraska voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 18 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 18 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 11 days before Election Day
Check your Nebraska voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Nebraska registration using the Nebraska voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Nebraska voter registration rules
To register in Nebraska you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Nebraska
- be 17 years old to register and 18 years old by the General Election
- if convicted of a felony, two years have passed since the sentence was completed (including any parole or probation)
- not have been officially found to be mentally incompetent
- not have been convicted of treason, unless you have had your civil rights stored.
Nebraska online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you have a Nebraska driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID.
- Visit the Nebraska online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 18 days before Election Day .
Nebraska by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Nebraska driver's license number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, write "NONE" here.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 18 days before Election Day .
Nebraska in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Nebraska driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Nebraska address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Nebraska same day registration
Registering to vote in Nebraska with a felony conviction
Voting rights are restored automatically 2 years after the completion of your sentence, including prison, parole, and probation. You should receive a notice letting you know that your rights have been restored; you can then register to vote. Nebraska restoration information
Nebraska absentee and mail ballot guide
Nebraska absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Nebraska absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: 120 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 11 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Nebraska absentee ballot rules
Any registered Nebraska voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Nebraska online ballot request
Nebraska does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Nebraska by-mail ballot request
- Download the Nebraska absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 11 days before Election Day .
Nebraska in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Nebraska absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
If you are a first time voter and did not provide valid ID when registering or applying for your ballot then you must provide a non-expired photo ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document dated within 60 days.
Nebraska absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Nebraska absentee ballot tracker
Nebraska absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Nebraska emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesIf you are an emergency responder providing services outside of your county of residence at any point during the 45 days before or including Election Day, you may request a ballot via fax or email.
- Emergency ballot request starts 45 days before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends NOON Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Nebraska early voting guide
Nebraska early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 30 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
What to bring
Most Nebraska voters do not need to show ID. First time Nebraska voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show any non-expired photo ID. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name, current address and is dated within 60 days prior to the date of the election. university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Nebraska voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
Most Nebraska voters do not need to show ID. First time Nebraska voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show any non-expired photo ID. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name, current address and is dated within 60 days prior to the date of the election. university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
If you are a first time voter and did not provide valid ID when registering or applying for your ballot then you must provide a non-expired photo ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document dated within 60 days.
ID requirements for online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you have a Nebraska driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Nebraska elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Nebraska Secretary of State Suite 2300, State Capitol Bldg. Lincoln, NE 68509‐4608
External resources
- Nebraska online voter registration
- Nebraska voter status lookup
- Nebraska absentee ballot tracker
- Nebraska polling place locator